Haileybury Academy in Darwin faced an eventful Week 7 as Cyclone Fina approached the Top End, turning an ordinary school timetable into a week marked by quick decisions, early mornings and impressive resilience. Despite the disruption, academy members kept spirits high and continued showing up for one another.
The week began with a calm Tuesday sunrise walk and run for boarding boys. By Wednesday, as families prepared for the cyclone, some young men returned home while others remained on campus and enjoyed an after-school basketball match against Palmerston 7-9 Academy, securing a 50–31 win.
On Thursday more boys travelled home, and by Friday the planned 100% Attendance Day was cancelled. The academy moved swiftly, replacing it with a morning of Friday Footy and bacon and egg wraps. 19 boys were on the oval at 6.40am, making the most of a surprisingly beautiful morning.
Cyclone Fina hit on Saturday night, bringing strong winds and power outages. Monday of Week 8 became a recovery day for Darwin as the community cleared debris and managed outages. By Tuesday, Haileybury Academy resumed more typical routines.
To ensure senior boys didn’t miss out on their end-of-year recognition, staff organised a mid-week make-up celebration with go-karting and dinner in the city.
For Haileybury Academy, the week was a true test of adaptability and teamwork. The boys navigated uncertainty with maturity and good humour, creating memories that will stay with them long after Cyclone Fina has passed.
